USS Alabama Celebrates 25 Years of Service
UNITED STATES - 26 MAY 2010
KEYPORT, Wash. -- Sailors aboard USS Alabama (SSBN 731) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ship's commissioning with a ceremony at the Keyport Undersea Museum May 25.
Members from the Northwest Chapter of the Universal Ship Cancellation Society (USCS) USS Columbia #106 sponsored the event that included a special guest speaker, Alabama's first commanding officer (Gold Crew), retired Capt. Mal Wright.
"It is always great to come back and tell the rich history to the Sailor's," said Wright. "Our guys don't get a lot of recognition so being able to get together and celebrate an important day in Alabama's history has been wonderful."
Members of the local USCS chapter created commemorative cachets and postmarks in keeping with their tradition of recording naval history through the naval postal system.
Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, commander, Submarine Group 9, presented Cmdr. Christopher Kline, Alabama (Blue Crew) commanding officer, with a letter from the governor of Alabama commemorating the 25 proud years of service from the boat and crews.
"I think it is important to pause and recognize the contributions of the ship and the crews who have served on her," said Caldwell. "When the ship was put into service 25 years ago there was a threat to our nation. Today that threat has changed but it still remains, and Alabama has the capability to ensure our nation is safe."
File Photo: USS Alabama (SSBN 731). It is an U.S. Navy Ohio-class nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine. It carries Trident II (D5) Intercontinental Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) with multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capability and is armed with nuclear warheads.
UNITED STATES - 26 MAY 2010
KEYPORT, Wash. -- Sailors aboard USS Alabama (SSBN 731) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the ship's commissioning with a ceremony at the Keyport Undersea Museum May 25.
Members from the Northwest Chapter of the Universal Ship Cancellation Society (USCS) USS Columbia #106 sponsored the event that included a special guest speaker, Alabama's first commanding officer (Gold Crew), retired Capt. Mal Wright.
"It is always great to come back and tell the rich history to the Sailor's," said Wright. "Our guys don't get a lot of recognition so being able to get together and celebrate an important day in Alabama's history has been wonderful."
Members of the local USCS chapter created commemorative cachets and postmarks in keeping with their tradition of recording naval history through the naval postal system.
Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, commander, Submarine Group 9, presented Cmdr. Christopher Kline, Alabama (Blue Crew) commanding officer, with a letter from the governor of Alabama commemorating the 25 proud years of service from the boat and crews.
"I think it is important to pause and recognize the contributions of the ship and the crews who have served on her," said Caldwell. "When the ship was put into service 25 years ago there was a threat to our nation. Today that threat has changed but it still remains, and Alabama has the capability to ensure our nation is safe."
File Photo: USS Alabama (SSBN 731). It is an U.S. Navy Ohio-class nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine. It carries Trident II (D5) Intercontinental Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) with multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capability and is armed with nuclear warheads.
